BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — When the East Central Tigers tried to get close to Arkansas Tech in Saturday’s Great American Conference tournament semifinals, the Golden Suns just got fired up even more.

ECU went on a 7-0 scoring surge to close within 61-57 with eight minutes to go, but ATUoutscored the Tigers 21-11 the rest of the way and won 81-69 inside the Bruin Fieldhouse. The Golden Suns earned their first berth in the GAC Tournament championship game, but their 11th conference title game overall since 1998.

Arkansas Tech (22-6) will play Southwestern Oklahoma State (23-5), the second seed and defending GAC Tournament champion, at 1 p.m. today.

Suns head coach Dave Wilbers said he thought his team played their best game of the season Saturday.

“We played outstanding,” the coach said. “We did a great job executing our offense in all phases. We scored in transition, we scored inside, we hit 3-pointers and we hit our free throws.

“In the first half, we really won the game because we got the lead and played oustanding defense. I couldn’t ask for more from our basketball team. By far, the best game of the year.”

East Central (19-9) scored the game’s first basket, but that was it for the Tigers. ATU scored eight straight and increased its lead through seniors Jessica Weatherford (team-high 21 points) and Rosie Silva (19 points), whose free throws gave the Golden Suns their biggest lead of the game (37-19) in the first half.

But ECU, led by Dylan Webster and two other Tigers who scored in double figures, wouldn’t go away. Webster scored 10 points herself in a span of 3:30 late in the first half as East Central closed its gap to 43-34 at halftime.

Weatherford opened the second half with a bucket, then hit back-to-back baskets for a 57-42 lead near the midway point. But again, the Tigers chipped away at the lead until they were within 61-57.

But Weatherford hit a traditional 3-point play and later hit another inside jumper, than Silva six unanswered as Arkansas Tech put this one away.

Tikeyiah Johnson scored 11 for the Suns, followed by Cara Neighbors with 10, Jasmine Poole with eight, Caroline Eubanks with five, Caitlyn Spurgeon with four and Westin Taylor with three.

“All the girls stepped up, there was no let-up,” Wilbers said. “It was 40 minutes of basketball, and our bench did a great job. Another big player in the game was Westin Taylor. She really took their high-low game away.

“Jessica is a senior, and she sees the end. She is playing some strong basketball. She’s had some injuries and some sickness this season, but she’s feeling better right now. You think about all the players in this region. Who has won four conference championships, two region championships, been MVP in one, played in two Elite Eights? She’s done that. She and Rosie are having great years and are finishing in a big way.”

Arkansas Tech is 13-for-13 in conference championship games. Either the men’s or women’s teams have reached a conference tournament final. Both the Suns and Wonder Boys reached the Gulf South Conference tournament championship games in 2010 and 2011, while Arkansas Tech swept the GSC titles in 2010.